Harry Alton Patterson

Wednesday

Jun 25, 2003 at 3:53 PM

Harry Alton Patterson, age 69, of 519 Bill Pearson Rd., died from a heart attack at his home on June 22, 2003. He and his wife, Brenda, had been working in the yard when the attack occurred. In addition to his surviving wife, Harry had a daughter and son-in-law Ashley and Arthur Gibbs of Rutherfordton, NC; a son and daughter-in-law, Travis and Aimee Patterson of Ft. Worth, Texas; another son and daughter-in-law, Lucas and Lisa Patterson of Spartanburg. He had a special granddaughter, Laura Gibbs, and a newborn grandson, Elijah Alton Patterson. Also surviving are two sisters: Gaynelle Brewer and Patricia Ann Bishop of Brevard, North Carolina.

Born in Henderson County, North Carolina to Carl and Violet Talley Patterson. Harry enjoyed a lifelong love for the beauty of the mountain country and anything associated with it. Growing up in the Brevard School System, he later attended Davidson College and graduated from Western Carolina University with a BS in math.

Before embarking on his professional career as an Industrial Engineer, he served his country in the U. S. Army in Germany and later in the U. S. Navy as a reservist.

His interests took him out of doors and included solo flying, exploring mountain streams and terrain, amateur gardening, raising cattle, and farming. In more recent years his time was spent working diligently for his church. He was an integral force in establishing the Woodruff Seventh-day Adventist Church and worked tirelessly for it until his death.

Harry also had a love of and talent for music. In his youth he was a member of a band, played the trumpet, and later was the song leader for his church.

After a disabling accident in 1992, Harrys life and activities were changed, but he never gave up living. Always pushing himself to meet the needs of his church, friends, and family, Harry was ready to serve and did so until the very moment of his death.

Visitation will be at Lanfords Funeral Home in Woodruff on Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodruff Seventh-day Adventist Church on E. Georgia St. Graveside services will follow at Greenlawns in Spartanburg. Officiating ministers will be Elders Arthur Gibbs, Travis Patterson, and Jeff Donaldson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Woodruff Seventh-day Adventist Church, PO Box 684, Woodruff, SC 29388.